BILL NUMBER: ACR 79	CHAPTERED  09/14/99

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER   111
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 14, 1999
	ADOPTED IN SENATE   SEPTEMBER 3, 1999
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 26, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Hertzberg

                        AUGUST 16, 1999

   Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 79--Relative to Retinoblastoma
Awareness Month.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 79, Hertzberg.  Retinoblastoma Awareness Month.
   This measure would recognize the month of October 1999 as
Retinoblastoma Awareness Month and would encourage all Californians
to make themselves and their families aware of the risk of
retinoblastoma and the need for appropriate screening, early
diagnosis, and referral.




   WHEREAS, Retinoblastoma International located at Children's
Hospital Los Angeles was created to work toward the worldwide
elimination of blindness and death in children caused by the
pediatric eye cancer, retinoblastoma; and
   WHEREAS, Retinoblastoma is a rare childhood cancer arising in
immature retinal cells inside the eye and accounts for approximately
13 percent of all cancers in infants; and
   WHEREAS, This cancer affects newborns, infants, and toddlers, and
most children are diagnosed before two and one-half years of age; and

   WHEREAS, Each year there are an estimated 8,000 cases worldwide
and of these cases, 7,000 children die from the disease due to the
delay in diagnosis or to lack of access to expert medical care; and
   WHEREAS, There may be a genetic predisposition to retinoblastoma
and other malignancies; and
   WHEREAS, Nine out of 10 families have no previous history of this
tumor; and
   WHEREAS, Over 70 percent of children treated for retinoblastoma at
Children's Hospital Los Angeles are Hispanic and there are studies
proposed to explore this possible racial predilection; and
   WHEREAS, To realize our goal of early diagnosis, the standard of
care must be changed for all infants in California by enacting
legislation requiring pupillary dilation in newborns; and
   WHEREAS, The dilated pupil exam significantly enhances the
detection of blinding and life-threatening birth defects arising
inside the eye such as retinoblastoma, pediatric cataracts, and other
ocular abnormalities; and
   WHEREAS, Guidelines for a dilated pupil exam by the primary care
physician in early infancy would facilitate detection of the abnormal
disease process and facilitate timely referral to an ophthalmologist
for diagnosis and treatment of retinoblastoma; and
   WHEREAS, Early detection and referral would allow early diagnosis
of retinoblastoma which, if recognized and treated as soon as
possible after birth, could cause little long-term disability; and
   WHEREAS, Pediatricians do not perform a dilated pupil exam as part
of well-baby care once the child is discharged from the hospital
because it is not included in the standard of care.  The American
Academy of Pediatrics is prepared to support the effort to include
this exam as part of the standard of care at the well-baby visit; and

   WHEREAS, Early diagnosis and intervention can save the State of
California and the health insurers tens of millions of dollars
annually; and
   WHEREAS, The costs in time and supplies for the pupillary dilation
test is negligible; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That Members of the Legislature hereby recognize
the month of October 1999 as Retinoblastoma Awareness Month and
encourage all Californians to make themselves and their families
aware of the risk of retinoblastoma and the need for appropriate
screening, early diagnosis, and referral; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the Governor of the State of California and to the
author for appropriate distribution.
